Criterion: Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Where Indigenous Peoples may be affected by Facility operations: policy commitment to FPIC, separate meaningful engagement, baseline conditions, and action plans respecting traditional lands, knowledge, and decision-making.
Full Description
SHR02 Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Standard Section: 9.2 Category: Social Human Rights Scheme: Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP) Standard Version: 2.0 for Piloting (effective April 30, 2025)
Overview
Where Indigenous Peoples may be affected by Facility operations: policy commitment to FPIC, separate meaningful engagement, baseline conditions, and action plans respecting traditional lands, knowledge, and decision-making.
Requirements
If the initial ESG risk assessment conducted for the Facility, as described in Section 6.6, determines that there are Indigenous Peoples that may be affected by the Facility's operations, then the Facility shall:
- 9.2.1 Establish a documented policy that includes a commitment to respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples, and uncontacted peoples, including their right to Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) in alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
- 9.2.2 Conduct separate, meaningful engagement with relevant Indigenous Peoples to identify aspects of particular importance. Engagement shall be conducted in an inclusive, transparent, respectful, and culturally appropriate manner.
- 9.2.3 Establish baseline conditions to identify the history, socio-economic context, traditional lands and uses, land claims, and decision-making processes for affected Indigenous Peoples.
- 9.2.4 Identify and assess risks of adverse impacts on Indigenous Peoples' lands, livelihoods, resources, and cultural heritage.
- 9.2.5 Where established as applicable, develop and implement action plans inclusive of Indigenous Peoples' rights that include:
- 9.2.5.1 Rights to ongoing FPIC throughout the engagement process and the Facility's lifecycle;
- 9.2.5.2 Rights to access land and cultural heritage sites;
- 9.2.5.3 Respect for and use of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and traditional decision-making processes, as appropriate;
- 9.2.5.4 Prevention, mitigation, and remediation of adverse impacts on Indigenous Peoples' lands, livelihoods, resources, and cultural heritage;
- 9.2.5.5 Communicating Indigenous Peoples rights to access grievance mechanisms and remedy in alignment with Section 6.7.
Source: RMI Facility Standard for Social, Environmental, OHS and Governance Risks, Version 2.0 for Piloting (April 2025), Section 9.2
Profiles using this criterion
Responsible Minerals Assurance Process
Conformity Alignment
Meets
Pass: Yes
Definition: "Where Indigenous Peoples are identified as potentially affected, the facility has established a documented policy committing to respect Indigenous Peoples's rights and FPIC, conducted separate meaningful engagement with affected Indigenous Peoples, established baseline conditions including traditional lands and decision-making processes, assessed risks to Indigenous Peoples' lands and cultural heritage, and implemented action plans including ongoing FPIC, access to cultural heritage sites, and remediation of adverse impacts."
Partially Meets
Pass: No
Definition: "Indigenous Peoples engagement requirements are acknowledged but partially implemented: e.g., policy commitment to FPIC exists but separate meaningful engagement has not been conducted, baseline conditions are documented but risk assessment is incomplete, or action plans do not include all required elements (e.g., ongoing FPIC throughout facility lifecycle)."
Remediation: 180 days
Does Not Meet
Pass: No
Definition: "No documented policy on Indigenous Peoples' rights, no separate engagement with affected Indigenous Peoples where required, no FPIC process, or no action plan to protect Indigenous Peoples' rights."
Remediation: 90 days
Priority
Pass: No
Definition: "Priority findings are not raised against this criterion. Violations of Indigenous Peoples' rights are assessed under Does not Meet."
Remediation: 30 days
Not Applicable
Pass: Yes
Definition: "This criterion is not applicable where the ESG risk assessment confirms that no Indigenous Peoples are affected by the facility's operations. The facility must document how the assessment was conducted and its findings."
Not Able To Assess
Pass: No
Definition: "The assessor was unable to access Indigenous Peoples engagement records, FPIC documentation, or meet with affected Indigenous Peoples' representatives to verify the engagement process."
Change Log
1.0.0 (2026-06-24)
Initial release.